Means for cooling refrigerators



Sept. 21 1926.

G. A. STREHLKE MEANS FOR COOLING REFRIGERATORS Filed Jan. 1925 INVENTOR G.A.5TBEHLKE BY WZ MW %6 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 21, y 1926.

UNITED STATES GUSTAV ADOLPH 813m, I ORTON GROVE, ILLINOIS.

ms 103 COOLING REFRIGERATOR.

Application filed January as, 1925. Serial m; 5,612.

My invention relates to means for coolin refrigerators, and it consists in the com erator during the cool months of the year.

by means of which it is unnecessary to emp 0y artificial coolin mediums.

A further object o my invention is to provide a device of the character describe in which means is provided for preventing the the opening 4 and the air duct is projected side of the building may have an overhangescape of cold air from the refrigerator when the device is not in use, as in the summer months.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described in which means is provided for preventing rain, snow, sleet and the like from entering the refrigerator when the device is in operation.

provide a devlce of the character described which is simple in form, compact, and thorou hly efiicient for the purpose intended.

6ther objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularl pointed out in the appended claim.

y invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings formng art of this application, in which I have s own a sectional view of an embodiment of my invention.

In carr 'ng out my invention I make use of the ordi nary type of refrigerator having a heat insulated wall 1. For eflicient installation of my device I preferably place the refrigerator with its ad acent wall near to an outside wall 2 of the building or room in which the refrigerator is placed. I provide a horizontal opening 3 through the building wall 2 and an opening 4 through the adjacent wall of the refrigerator 1 1n re istration with the opening 3. y im roved cooling means consists in a fan cham r 5 having end walls 6 and 7 respectively, in the shape of a truncated hollow -cone. The small or outer ends 8 of the end walls 6 and 7 respectively are connected with cylindrical air ducts 9 and 10 respecs tively. The air duct 9' is projected through through the opening 3. The outer end of the air duct 10, i. e., that end which is out- A further object of my invention to ing canopy portion 11 which falls to a point at 12 common with the lowermost wall of the duct 10.

A fine mesh screen 13 is disposed over the mouth of the duct 10 so that birds, insects and the like may not be drawn into the icebox with air passing therethrough when the device is in operation.

' A fan 14 is dis osed in the air chamber 5 and is supporte of an electric motor 16. The motor 16 is centrally disposed and fixed within the air chamber 5 by means of rods 17 secured at their outermost ends to the inner wall of the chamber 5 and at their innermost ends to the shell of the motor 16. Electrical conducting cords 18 for sup lying current to the motor 16 are connecte thereto and projected through an insulating bushing 19 in the end wall 7 of the chamber, whereupon they are connected to a suitable current source (not shown). A switch may be disposed in the circuit of the motor 16 for the purpose of controlling the operation of the motor.

The innermost end of the air duct 9 i. e., that end projected within the refrigerator is cut off obliquely, as shown at 20, and a plane of the light metal cover 21, hingedly mounted at 22 to the duct 9, is disposed thereupon so as to normally close the inner end of the duct when air is not passing therethrough.

When the fan 14 is in operation, however, the passage of air through the chamber 5 will follow the course of the arrows 23, and cause the cover 21 to assume the position shown in dotted lines. This is duetothe fact that the cover plate is extremely light, preferably of aluminum, and the current of air causes the door to lift from its se upon the inner end of the duct.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device the operation thereof may be readily understood. My invention is primarily intended for use during the winter months when the tem erature of the atmosphere is very low an intended to eliminate entirely the use of artificial' cooling means within the refrigerator. Operation of the motor=16 will draw air fromoutside the chamber 5 into the refrigerator where. it will serve to cool the contents by absorbing the heat, in the same manner as cool air is emitted from ice or artificial cooling mediums.

upon the axle shaft 15 The fan 14 may be; operated manually, i. e., the motor 16 turned on or oil when desired, or a thermostatic switch may be employed to maintain the temperature uniformly. Such a switch is well known in the art and needs no explanation here. v-At all times when the motor 16 is not operating the passage of air from the refrigerator out through the duct 10 in the reverse direction is prevented, due to the fact that the cover 21 will assume the position shown in full lines by virtue of its own weight. w

The canopy portion 11 of the duct 10 effectually prevents the entrance of rain, sleet, snow and the like to the refrigerator,

and the screen 13 guards against the admission of small insects, birds, and the like which might be drawn in through the duct when the fan is in operation.

relatively large end and a relatively small end, the upper portion of the relatively small end of the intake duct being bent.

outwardly and downwardly to a point in alignment. with the lower surface of said duct, a cylinder rigidly secured to said relatively large ends, a motor disposed in said cylinder, and a relatively large fan disposed in said cylinder and operatively connected to said motor.

GUSTAV ADOIQPH STREHLKE. 

